The Current Status of the Roadways Solar
Power Technology: A Review
Roger Subramanian, Ph.D.
Penn State University at Harrisburg
August 5, 2015
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
Outline
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Power of Sun
On the roadway
Along the roadside
Advantages & Disadvantages
Future of Roadway Solar Power
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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SUN
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Power of Sun
 Survival of species (include humans)
 Free
 Even if overcast, radiation can
produce energy
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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Solar power on the roadway: Solar Raised
Pavement Markers (SRPM)
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SOLAR RAISED PAVEMENT MARKERS
(SRPM)
 In use for more than 20 years in U.K,
Netherlands and other European
countries.
 LED Road Studs in U.K.
 WSDOT 5 year test
 10 times greater visibility for drivers
than the traditional retro-reflective
markers
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LED Road Studs in U.K
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Advantages of SRPMs
 For the visibility of drivers on both
directions of travel
 Improved and sustainable night and
adverse weather guidance can be provided
(fog, rain, ice, skiff of snow etc.) because
of their internal illumination rather than
retro reflectivity.
 Nature of the changing terrain and curves
ahead can be alerted to the drivers
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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Advantages of SRPMs
 They can be used for the demarcation of
combined pedestrian and cycle paths so
that cyclists and pedestrian are separated
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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Disadvantages of SRPMs
 Current recessed RPM’s are not
visible/apparent in the rain etc.
 In weather events headlights reflect off
surface of water, thereby eliminating their
conspicuity altogether, or they become
hidden from view by debris.
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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Solar power on the walkway: Washington
University
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SOLAR PANELED PAVEMENT (SPP)
 The world’s first Solar Paneled Pavement
(SPP) at George Washington University in
Ashburn, Virginia.
 In total 27 panels have been used in the
pavement design which has been
integrated into a popular Solar Walk
between two of the university’s buildings,
Innovation Hall and Exploration Hall.
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Idaho based Solar Panel Pavement
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Driveway Solar Panels
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Solar Paneled Bikeway, Netherlands
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Pavements solar slabs
 It should be translucent for sunlight
and repel dirt as much as possible.
 At the same time, the top layer must
be skid resistant and strong enough
in order to realize a safe road
surface“.
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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Pavement Solar Panels: Advantages
 Panels can produce electricity by
connecting them to the national
power grid and hence be used for
homes.
 More area is available for use,
because the total length of U.S
roadways is above 4 million miles.
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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Pavement Solar Panels: Disadvantages
 It is more expensive to build the
pavements with solar panels rather
than without them.
 Durability of these glass roads are yet
to be seen, because it will have to
deal with heavy dynamic loads such
as Semi-trailer trucks.
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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Pavement Solar Panels: Disadvantages
 Cost of repairing these solar panels is
likely more expensive than it would
be for fixing ordinary, asphalt roads.
 Because the solar panels lie flat
instead of being angled to take
optimal advantage of the sun, the
path's panels will produce about 30
percent less power than similar
panels might produce on a rooftop.
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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Solar energy along the Paved Roadways, Bike
Paths and Pedestrian Walkways
 First solar highway project in U.S started in
Oregon State that began to produce
electricity and it was fed into the national
electricity grid.
 A solar array mounted on the ground with
594 solar panels that produces 104 kilowatt
(DC) power is located at the interchange of
Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 south of
Portland, Oregon.
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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Photovoltaic Noise Barrier (PVNB)
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Photovoltaic Noise Barrier (PVNB)
 The first PVNB came into use in Europe
in 1989 and is located in Switzerland in
the municipality of Domat/Ems.
 If absorption of sound is required a
cassette or a zigzag model has to be
applied, enabling a combination of
sound reflection and sound absorption.
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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Carver, MA Roadside Solar Panels
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Carver, MA Roadside Solar Panels
 First solar project in U.S. built along a
major highway right-of-way has
begun producing energy to power the
town of Carver’s water-treatment
plant in the State of Massachusetts.
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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Carver, MA Roadside Solar Panels
 Built along Route 44 (as shown in
Figure 7) on an easement awarded by
the state to the town, the 99kilowatt project makes use of the
highway’s east-west orientation to
erect an array of south-facing solar
panels in a nearly ideal location in
terms of power-generating efficiency.
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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Advantages
 For Carver, a town in Massachusetts,
the renewable power supply will save
about $3,000 a month in electricity
costs.
 More revenue can be made with the
extra solar energy that can be used
by connecting the panels to the
national electric grid.
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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Disadvantages
 They need protection from the theft
by criminals.
 Especially when the panels are
deposited with dirt and dust from
road traffic use, then they need
constant cleaning.
 Vehicle accidents may cause solar
panels get disturbed.
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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Conclusions & Recommendations
 Solar panels can be used on the
roadway pavements as well as along
the roadside.
 The pros and cons are to be weighed
in before taking decision on the
selection of the right type of solar
project that can be used on our
roadways.
ISSAEST, Fairbanks, AK, USA, August 2-5, 2015
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